The place for technical discussions about GA and flying.
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By mick w
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1508550
cockney steve wrote:The owners manual gives no minimum, that I can find, but I run it at 6 or more. Maybe I can reduce that.

Why Lycoming don't give a minimum for the dry sump I have no idea. I was surprised to see only 2 quarts as a minimum for the o360

Most of the"surplus "oil is foe cooling an an endurance reserve for burning..
you need enough to prime the oil-pump, filter, galleries and enough to trickle down, after it's done it's job and keep the pump full . Had a BMC Mini in once, with a flickering oil-light.....it took 9 pints! (capacity awa 9 1/2 !....remarkably, there was no damage.


Thought you'd bought yourself a new year pressie for a moment , then I realised the first two lines were quotes . :lol: :thumright:
By cockney steve
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1508574
Couldn't be **** going back and doing the "quote" thingy..

too bloody cold! nursing the evil manflu, ATM. living on Ibuprofen, orange juice and honey in hot water.

There's nothing like a good diet......and that is nothing............ hacking cough has subsided, mainly, today.
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By Ben Twings
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1509012
ChrisRowland wrote:I'd love to know how Lycoming came up with a formula with one variable and three constants. Doubt they will say so.


As I understand it, the max burn rate is based on the loss of octane rating caused by mixing oil with the fuel/air charge. Analogous to mixing diesel fuel with your Avgas.

And I believe the 2 qt minimum level is purely based on the pump being able to deliver oil in all normal attitudes. Best not to let it get anywhere near that low.
By GAFlyer4Fun
#1509390
For our O-320-D3G, it sounds notably rougher when it gets down towards 5 qrts (although some members don't notice the difference pre-takeoff or in cruise). Much smoother with 6 quarts, and personally I would equate a smoother engine as being more efficient and causing itself less wear n tear.

(We have always been told to maintain 6 quarts with this engine and not let it go below 5 quarts. Although the max is 8 quarts in the book, apparently our engine pushes it out if there is more than 7 quarts).

YMMV